Pin-setting mechanism



A.. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1919.

Patented July 27, 1920..

- 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

flab 970601. A 1K 0J6 e10 A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING-MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r m 7 w 7 I A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING MECH'ANISM.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 2.1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

- UNITED sTA ALFRED N; OLSEN, OF ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA.'

PIN-SETTIN G MECHAN ISM.

Application filed July 2, 1919. Serial No. 308,081.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED N. OLSEN, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Rapids, in the countyof Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pin-Setting Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to mechanisms'for setting bowling pins upon theirspots on the floor of a bowling alley and has as its general object theprovision of a mechanism for this purpose into which the pins may beplaced or thrown and which in its operation will set the pins accuratelyupontheir respective spots in upright position thus avoiding the tediousprocedure of manually placing the pins.

The'mechanism of'the present invention embodies a frame mounted forraising and lowering movement and having a plurality of pin receivingunits and one object of the invention is to so construct each of theseunits that the devices comprising the same will operate to'automaticallyplace the pin occupying the same in upright position accuratel'ycentered upon its spot, when the frame .is lowered, and will after suchdeposition of the pin automatically release the same so that theposition of the pin will not be disturbed when the frame is withdrawnfrom the pins in an upward direction.- 3

Another object of the invention is to so constructthe devices of eachpin receivingunit that these devices when in normal or active conditionwill firmly support or bolster the respective pin when the pin is thrownor placed therein and will yet operate immediately upon lowering act theframe of the device to depositing position,

to release the pin and yet supportthe same firmly in an upright positionupon the respective s t. v

Another object of the invention is to so construct the devices of eachpin receiving ,unit that when the pin is placed or thrown into the unitit will be supported in upright or vertical position and willcontinuously maintain said. position during the operation of themechanism as a whole so that in effecting deposition of the pin upon itsspot the pin is not in any manner turned, tilted, or subjected to anyother motion which would in any way affect its stability when set andreleased.

Each pin unit embodies coacting devices for supporting the pin when thelatter is deposited therein, one of these devices constituting anabutment for one side of the pin and the other device constituting abolstering means for the pin, and a further object of the invention isto so construct the bolstering means that the pin engaging memberthereof will be caused to promptly and positively recede from the pinwhen the mechanism is operating to deposit the pin upon its spot.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of the mechanism embodying thepresent invention installed in a bowling alley;

Fig. 2 isa vertical front to rear sectional view through one of the pinreceiving units, the pin supporting devices thereof being shown inposition supporting a pin within the unit; f

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in adownward direction; I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the manner in whichthe pin bolstering element is to be 5 F ig. 5 'is a similar viewillustrating the E s PATENT: OFFICE-:

v Specification of Letters Zita tent. Patented July 27, 1920.

Eaovd through its en- .gagement with the flo r of the bowling alley torelease the pin;

positionsof the parts-when the pin is really therefrom and have securedeach to its outer end a rod 3 whichlextends. upwardly poo from therespective bracket and through suitable upper and lower guides indicatedby the-numerals 4 and 5 respectively. A d1- eachrod 3 and at its lowerend to any suitable portion of the frame 1. .By this conagonal brace 6is secured-at'its upper end to struction and arrangement of parts, the

. frame 1 is mounted for raising and lowering movement, and in orderthat. the frame may be cushioned in its upward movement, suitablebufie'rsprings 7 may be positioned upon the lower portions of the rods 3 soas'to be deposited in the frame and it will be understood, of course,that the frame may be lowered to depositing position upon the floor ofthe alley, which floor is indicated by the numeral 12, by graspingeither of the rods 3 or the frame 1 or any other convenient part of themechanism and movin the same in a downward direction, and, 0 course,when the pins have been deposited and the frame or its associated partshave been relieved of this downward pressure, the frame will beautomatically returned to the elevated position through the action ofthe counterweights 11. The guides Q: and 5 and also a transverse shaftor bar 13 which carries the pulleys 10, are supported by suitableuprights or standards 14 mounted upon the walls 15 of. the alley, asshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The bowling pins are indicated each bythe. numeral 16.

I As above stated, the frame 1 may be of any desired construction, andthe pin receiving units which are arranged within this frame may bebuilt into the frame or ar ranged therein in any other suitable manner.As these units are of identical construction, a description of one willsuffice for all. Each of the units comprises a box-like body includingsides 17, a forward wall 18, and a rear wall 19. The back or rear wall19 of the unit is vertically disposed and the inwardly presented facethereof, indicated by the numeral 20, is transversely concave preferablyon an are somewhat of greater degree than the are describing the majorcircumference of the body of the bowling pin 16 to be received withinthe unit, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This back or rearwall constitutes a fixed abutment for the bowling pin, and in order thatthe pin may be suitably engaged at a point above the point of maximumdiameter of its body.

under conditions to be presently explained, the said wall 19 is providedat its top with an abutment shoulder 21 which may be of metal or anyother suitable material and which is preferably set into a rabbet. 22

' formed in the inner face 20 of the said Wall 19. This shoulder issecured in place by boltsor other fastening devices'23 and is providedwith an inwardly projecting flange 24" having an arcuate inwardlypresented edge 25 for engagement with the side of the pin as statedabove.

of the pin bolstering member which is indicated in general by thenumeral 27, the said body being in this manner supported for up and downslidin movement within the forward portion of t e unit. It will beunderstood and particularly by reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 of thedrawings, that the body 27 of the pin bolstering member is inclined withrelation to the plane of the rear wall 19 of the unit and that in theupward sliding movement of the said body 27, the body will recede fromthe said wall 19. In order to. limit the downward movement of thebolstering member,the forward wall 18 of the unit is formed with a slot28 which extends vertically and opens through the upper edge of the saidwall, and the body 27 is provided upon its face which opposes the saidwall 18, with a stud 29 designed to normally seat in the lower end ofthe slot 28 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings when the parts are innormal position or more specifi- .cally while the bolstering member isin position to bolster and support the pin 16. In order that thebolstering member 27 may be adapted to suitably engage the body of thepin so as to support the same in a centered position, and in order thatthe bolstering member may readily ride out of engagement with the pin,when operating to spot the same, without disturbing the position of thepin or causing the same to totter, means is provided upon the body ofthe member 27 as will now be described. Spindles 30 are rigidly securedat their inner ends toa block 31 upon the rear face of the body 27,preferably by providing the said ends of the spindles with-attachingtangs 32 which are disposed and secured in grooves 33 in the rear faceof the block 31, and these spindles are supported at their outer ends bysuitable brackets3 l secured to the said rear face of the body of themember 27 the spindles.

being disposed with their axes extending at diverging lines as clearlyshown in Rig. 3 of the drawings. The numeral 35 indicates concaveantifriction rollers which are rotatably mounted upon the spindles 30and which may be of fiber or any other suitable material, the curvatureof the concave peripheries of the rollers being such as to adapt thesefaces to snugly fit and conform to the contour of the body of the pin tobe supported. The disposition of the rollers 35 is such that they willengage the forward side of the pin at spaced points located at oppositesides of the front to rear median 'line of the body of the pin disposedwithin the unit, and inasmuch as the bolstering member 27 will recedefrom the abutment 19 as the said member slides upwardly in the frame ofthe unit, the rollers .35 will be correspondingly moved with relation tothe said abutment 19. .When the bolstering member 27 is in the loweredposition shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the maximum distance between.its rollers 35 and the concave face 20 of the abutment wall 19 will beless than the maximum diameter of the body of the pin 16 so thatwhen'the pin is dropped or thrown into the unit, it will assumesubstantially the upright position shown in Fig. 2 and will be supportedin this position until the apparatus is operated to spot the pins.

The body of the bolstering member 27 is provided with spaced downwardlyextending legs 36 and as the frame of the structure is lowered for thepurpose of spotting the pins, the lower ends of the said legs 36 willcome into engagement with the surface of the floor or alley, as clearlyshown in Fig.-

4 of the drawings, and upon continued downward movement of the frame 1,the bolstering members will be moved upwardly within their respectiveunits slightly elevating the respective pins until they come intoengagement at the rear sides of their bodies with the arcuate edges 25of the respective shoulders 21. At such time, the maximum distancebetween the rollers 35 and the concave or abutment face of the wall 19of they respective unit will be approximately equal to the maximumdiameter of the body of the respective pin but also at this time thelower extremities of the legs of the bolstering members will stillproject a short distance below the lower edges of the walls of the unit.As the lowering of the framel is completed, the bolstering member ofeach unit will be further moved in an upward direction carrying with itthe respective rollers which, as they ride upwardly along the forwardside of the body of the pin, permit the pin to drop from the positionshown in Fig; 4. to the position shown .in-Fi'g. 5, in which latterposition the pin will be properly "spotted upon the floor of the alley.It will be understood by reference to Fig. 4 that the two rollers engagethe forward side of the pin at the opposite sides of the front 'to rearmedian line thereof and the rear side of the body of the'pin is inengagement at a single point in said line with the concave face 20 ofthe abutment member 19, the rear side of thepi'n at the'upper portionthereof being. a'lso-in' engagement with the arcuate edge of theshoulder 21 so that the pinis spotted accurately in upright '01 verticalposition which it will maintain as it is dropped to the position shownin Fig. 5. After the pins have been spottedin the manner stated and asshown in Fig. '5 .of the drawings, the frame 1 is raised andas it raisescarrying having a floor engaging part with it the pin receiving units,the rollers will remain in engagement with the forward sides of therespective pins and the said pins will remain at their rear sidesiniengagement' with the concave faces of the abutment members 19 of therespective units and will thus be steadied. and prevented fromtottering. Of course, as the units are further ele-, vated, the pinbolstering members will gradually resume the position shown in Fig. 2'of' the drawings until finally they are lifted.

entirely clear of the respective pins.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z. c 1.In pin setting mechanism, means to receive andsupport a pin in uprightposition and including a bolstering member movable in a direction torecede from the pin and in so moving operableto seat the same without achange in the position of the pin and to steady the pin upon recedingtherefrom.

" 2. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive and support a pin inupright position and including fixed and movable coacting pin engagingdevices, the movable device being arranged in active position to engagethe body of the pin below line of maximum diameter and in releasedposition to engage the body of the pin substantially at said line andoperable to set the pin without a change in its position.

means mounted or raising and lowering movement, and a flpin bOlSilGIlIlgmember mounted-thereon and movable in a down- 4. In pin settinmechanism, a supporting l ward direction to active position and in anupward direction to inactive position, and means providing for automaticmovement of the said member to inactive position upon lowering of thesupporting means:

5. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive-and support a pin to beset comprising a relatively fixed abutment member, and a gravityactuatedbolstering member bodily 1,

slidable in an up :and down direction and coacting therewith and havinga floor en gaging part to provide for its movement inan upward directionto release the pin when the means is lowered to spotting position.

6. In pin setting mechanism, means to re-' ceive and support a pin to beset comprising a relatively fixed abutment member, and a bolsteringmember mounted for up and down sliding movement and guided in itsupward-movement to recedefrom the plane ment member, and an inclinedbolstering member supported for up and down sliding movement and locatedopposite the saidabutment member. and arranged in its upward movement torecede from the plane thereof.

8. In pin setting mechanism, means for.

receiving and supportin a pin to be set comprism an upright re ativelyfixed abutment mem er, a bolstering member slidably supported for up anddown movement in a plane inclined upwardly away from the plane of theabutment member, the said bolstering member having a floor engaging art.

P 9. In pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a pinto be set comprising an upright relatively fixed abutment member havinga concave abutment face to engage one side of the body of the pin, and abolstering member mounted for movement in a direction receding from thesaid face of the abutment member and having anti-friction rollers toengage the opposite side of the pin at spaced points.

10. In pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supportin a pin tobe set comprising an upright re atively fixed abut ment member havin aconcave abutment face to engage one side of the body of the pin, and abolstering member mounted for movement in a direction receding from thesaid face of the abutment member, and having anti-friction rollers toengage the opposite-side of the pin at spaced points, the said rollershaving concave peripheries to conform to the curvature of the bpdy ofthe 11. In pin setting mechanism, means to receive and support a pin tobe set comprising a relatively fixed abutment member havin a concaveabutmentwface to engage one si e of the pin to be set, a fixed memberlocated opposite the abutment member, a bolsterin member slidablewithrelation to the said xedminber, and coacting means upomt'lie bolsteringmember and the said fixed member for limitin the downward movement ofthe bolstering member by gravit 12. pin setting mechanism, means forreceiving and supporting a. pin to be set member.

13. In pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a pintobe set comprising a pin receiving unit including side walls andoppositely located connecting walls, one of the said connecting wallsconstituting a relatively fixed abutment to be engaged by one side ofthe pin to be set, the

other connecting wall being disposed in a plane inclined upwardly andaway from the first. mentioned connecting wall, and a bolstering membermounted in 'the unit for sliding movement against the inner face of thelast mentioned connecting wall and having a floor engagin portionprojecting below the unit, where y upon engagement of the said portionwith a floor in the lowering movement of the unit, the said bolsteringmember will be moved upwardly and in a direction to recede from a pinbolstered thereby.

14. 11 pin setting mechanism, means for receiving and supporting a pinto be set comprising a pin receiving unit including side walls andoppositely 'located connecting walls, one of the said connecting wallsconstitut'in a relatively fixed abutment to be engage by one side of thepin to be set, the other connecting wall bein disposed in a planeinclined upwardly an away from the first mentioned connecting wall,a-bolstering member mounted in the unit for sliding movement against theinner face of the last mentioned connecting wall and having a floorengaging. portion projecting below the unit, whereby upon engagement ofthe said portion with a floor in the lowering movement of the unit, thesaid bolstering member will be moved upwardly and in a direction torecede from a pin bolstered thereby, the said inclined connecting wallhaving a vertically extending slot therein, and a pin pro'ecting fromthe bolstering member into I- sai slot and engageable with the lower endwall of the slot whereby to limit the downward movement of thebolstering m ember.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED N. OLSEN. [1 s.]

